Repair costs reasonable?

[dtrout]

Front pads $149,
machine front rotors $25
Replace drivers side front rotor $101.99 plus rehub left front rotor $25
Disc Brake hardware kit $53.93, replace disc caliper hardware $10
Rear pads $149
Machine rear rotors $25
Clean adjust park brake $18.99
Brake fluid flush $6.95, Flush brake sysytem $30
Transmission flush $99
Cooling flush Total $69.99
Fuel injection cleaning $59.99
Front and rear diff fluid $52.32
Transfer case fluid $15
Quad piston caliper service $100, caliper service kits $33

Total came to $900, plus tax.

Thanks.

 

[e9999]

trans flush??? oh oh...

 

[jp213a]

I'm seeing about $400 in parts and another $400 in labor plus $50 for tax if done at a dealership. It sounds like one of the front brake calipers hung up (wouldn't retract) resulting in a worn brake pad and rotor. This might have been indicated by the vehicile pulling to one side. If the back brakes were worn down and all the fluids were due for a change, the price is reasonable if the quality of work was first class. Did they show you the worn out brake pads and rotor? It's always a good idea to request the worn parts be bagged up and put in the vehicile so you can inspect them. The only item that is probably a small rip-off is cleaning the injectors. What was the cleaning procedure? There is definitely money and anxiety to be saved by doing your own vehicile maintenance work but you must have the interest, time, tools, manuals, and garage space. The anxiety factor comes in; was I ripped-off and was the work done correcltly. Fluid changes are easy; see the FAQ's for procedures.

 

[mhall10407]

Did they fill the radiator with Toyota Red Coolant? I assume unless you took some to the repair place with you they didn't.....I'd read the threads on the Toyota Red coolant as is highly recommended.

 

[macneill]

Doesn't seem too bad I guess. I bet the dealer would have been more, but it might have gotten you piece of mind.

 

[calamaridog]

I would say $59 for fuel injection cleaning is very fair IF they used an actual machine fed set-up and didn't just pour some $5 crap into your tank...

Total does not seem excessive to me...

 

[KINA]

why the "oh oh" about the for mentioned transmission flush?

 

[Pitbull]

why the "oh oh" about the for mentioned transmission flush?

(I think the "oh oh" means)

If they flushed it with only type IV ATF then it's not a problem and is also the best way to get all new fluid. If they used a "cleaner"/"conditioner" during the flush often times these cleaners can cause transmission failure, within 5K miles of the flush. You should never have anything but the correct type of transmission fluid put into your transmission.

 

[dtrout]

I was looking at the coolant level and saw that it is red fluid, but that it is below the low level in the reserve tank. Is that normal? I don't know what color or what level it was at before. No option to look at parts or keep them. Pretty sure the brake pads were needed, don't really know about the rest of the repairs they made on the brake system. Just not knowing a lot about the mechanical needs of vehicles always leaves me a little nervous, especially after a large bill like this one.

 

[NMuzj100]

If they flushed it with only type IV ATF

As a 1999 it would be fine with a Dextron II/III fluid (the cheapest kind and most readily available). I have never heard of even a half-way decent shop using a solvent type flush on a automatic transmission so I doubt that is a danger. Most shops that cut corners just drain and refill on a "change" and probably drain-refill-drive-drain-refill for a "flush".

 

[NMuzj100]

I was looking at the coolant level and saw that it is red fluid, but that it is below the low level in the reserve tank. Is that normal? I don't know what color or what level it was at before.

It is normal to have to add water after a coolant service as normal driving moves the fluid around the engine. You can add distilled water to the full level after letting the engine cool. Toyota coolant is red.

 

[Auggies'Blu]

I just got taken for $170.00 at a "non-dealership" shop for:

1. a transmission flush &fill (that's what the receipt says!)- $99.99
2. Fuel system flush (?) used what probably amounted to a"$5.00" bottle of fuel additive, the guy did show me three different bottles that were part of the Valvoline "3 stage" cleaning process.- $55.00
3. NY State emissions/safety inspection- $20.00

The total figure is slightly off on account of a discount the guy gave me for getting it all done that day. I was just planning on getting the inspection and fell for the " ya' better get this stuff done now or your car's gonna die!!!" routine!

As much as I would love to be able to wrench on my rig, I just don't have the luxury of a garage or even a workspace. My fellow apt. dwellers and management staff strongly discourage tenants working on vehicles in the few parking spaces in my apt. complex.

That and the couple feet of snow and temps in the teens!

 

[hank14]

It is difficult to know exactly what their protocol is for each of those procedures.
When they clean the fuel injectors, did they clean the throttle body?
How did they flush the tranny, and what did they use?

I wouldn't worry about it at this point. You bought yourself some time. Hopefully you can build a relationship with that shop, on the basis of experience and many good recommendations, for years to come. If they are reputable, time will tell, and if they are successful in their business, more power to them.